Inspired by Transformation Grant, Glassman Fund grants $20,000 to the East Moline and United Township School Districts

Sharon Glassman was a quiet, thoughtful person who worked at the International Harvester Plant in East Moline. Folks remember her for a cheerful, kind-hearted sensibility that shone through whenever she spoke. Her husband, Kenneth Glassman, was a welder at Johnson Sheet Metal whose iron-clad work ethic instilled within him a sense of duty and purpose. Together, the Glassmans found their passion in helping individuals and families better themselves however they could; they each worked hard throughout their lives, and eventually amassed a modest estate through prudence.

Before they died—Kenneth in 2011 and Sharon in 2013—the couple wanted to ensure their legacy would benefit the Quad Cities community for generations to come, as it was the place they were both proud to call home all their lives. That led them to establish the Kenneth and Sharon Glassman Fund at the Quad Cities Community Foundation.

Now managed by an advisory committee, the Glassman Fund recently awarded $20,000 to the East Moline and United Township School Districts for their comprehensive, multiphase plan to provide an extensive WiFi network for students. The grant is arriving on the heels of the $100,000 Transformation Grant the Community Foundation awarded the school districts just last month, along with some additional funding awarded by partner organizations. Together, the grants will fully fund the first phase of the project and pave the way for its successful completion.

“We knew right away that this project would be something the Glassmans would want to support,” said Jim Tiedje, one of the Glassman Fund’s advisors and a former trust officer at Quad City Bank and Trust. “I could see right away how funding this project would be crucial to promoting virtual learning opportunities for students who need them most.”

Especially during this time of remote learning, severe technological inequity has become clearer than ever; with a 22.9 percent poverty rate, the East Moline neighborhood in which this project will break ground is home to more than 100 students without quality internet access, making the Glassman grant all the more significant.

“Thanks to the team at the Community Foundation, we are able to take the steps needed to address the digital gap among students and get them the access they need,” said Bill Stengel, fellow Glassman Fund advisor. “From day one, we had a great degree of confidence that this grant would be used wisely.”

The completion of the project’s first phase will mark a significant milestone along the journey to ensure quality internet access for all students for years to come. “Students ought to be able to access their education no matter where they are, no matter their circumstance,” added Tiedje. “It’s an amazing feeling to have the opportunity to contribute to that work.”

The Glassman Fund represents one of many groups that has been inspired by the innovative solutions to challenges that the Community Foundation has identified. The fund also demonstrates the accessibility of smaller-donor advised funds—and how just about anyone can make a measurable impact on the community.

“Anyone’s legacy can be managed for the long-term benefit of our region,” said Tiedje, who is confident that the Glassmans would be proud of the way their wishes are being upheld.

“We feel we owe it to both Kenneth and Sharon to identify incredible opportunities for our community and make a difference with their legacy. Thankfully, the Community Foundation feels the same way and have truly helped us get things off the ground,” said Stengel. “Without their guidance, we wouldn’t have been able to maximize the grant’s potential and move this critical project forward.”